I need some advice....

SlickRick_PCS

SlickRick_PCS

Pool, Snooker, Carom
Silver Member
I am having deep considerations about moving to a different area of the
state. I am going to have deep considerations about how I am going to be
able to financially support myself as well as go to college -- which is my
primary priority. But here is where things get quite shaky: while attending my studies, I would really like to attend tournaments from around (or close to) my destination that I will hopefully be in and go pro (or at least semi). I don't want to abandon my studies but as I am gonna have to attend a sport, a job, billiards, and my studies, how can I try to cope with all this? If anybody here has been thru this situation, can yall drop me some advice?

---Thanks
 
SlickRick_PCS said:
I am having deep considerations about moving to a different area of the
state. I am going to have deep considerations about how I am going to be
able to financially support myself as well as go to college -- which is my
primary priority. But here is where things get quite shaky: while attending my studies, I would really like to attend tournaments from around (or close to) my destination that I will hopefully be in and go pro (or at least semi). I don't want to abandon my studies but as I am gonna have to attend a sport, a job, billiards, and my studies, how can I try to cope with all this? If anybody here has been thru this situation, can yall drop me some advice?

---Thanks
Click to expand...
I am old enough to be your father or maybe even grandfather, I have played pool since I was 10-11, pool is an obsession with me, I have hustled, have played in tournaments, had lots of friends who are damn good players. My life would have been much easier if I had an "education" but I have been fortunate in life - happily married to same gal and 3 kids doing well in their lives (with college degrees). My advice is rather brutal - forget the pool for now - you don't have time. Your job is getting that education. If you have the same passion for pool after you graduate, then go for it - atleast you will have a way to support yourself.
 
i failed at school by playing too much pool, but i didnt play good enough to make it there either, you should know if you play strong enough to earn a living playing. if your going bto do anything do it full time no matter what it is
 
hi there - just a thought. i have moved through several states and can say the following - follow your heart - if you want to move...do it! you don't want to look back and say i wish i would have done that when you are older. the men have it easy if you have intentions and want to go pro, so that will come in time. if you are doing what you are supposed to, the money will come (that is what everyone has always told me and guess what, it is true). go to school, find a part time good paying job, and play tournys on the weekend until you establish yourself. moving some place new, it is always hard emotionally, financially and physically - emotionally because of the culture changes, financially and physically (self explanatory)........best wishes to you and explore - you can always move back :)
 
For those that replied to my post, I thank you all. Please keep posting; I would really like to hear on behalf of what I had to say.
 
SlickRick_PCS said:
For those that replied to my post, I thank you all. Please keep posting; I would really like to hear on behalf of what I had to say.
Click to expand...

by the way, what are you studying?
 
9balllvr said:
by the way, what are you studying?
Click to expand...

Psychology, but I will probably change that major and minoring in Mathematics and my minor will definately stay; can't live without my fav subject.
 
Believe me---You can't do it all good. Definitely get your education and make that a priority. Most colleges have a pool table to distract you---but that is OK. If this is your first semester/quarter, set a goal. If you get a 2 .0---no pool. If you get a 2.5---5 hours per week. If you get a 3.0 10 hours per week. With a limited number of hours per week to play, I think you will use them to develp your game. Even in college you need some time for relaxation and pool is a great way to get it. Only one more rule---no gambling. It is addictive and time consuming. There is plenty of time for that when you get your degree and don't have either a job or money.
 
I started playing pool when I went into the Air Force in 1972. I played every free minute I had and became Base Champion within one year. I held that title for the next 3 years until I ended my tour. At 22 I realized I needed an education and went to college to learn accounting. During college I continued to play pool IN MY SPARE TIME since I loved the game. After I graduated I found an accounting job. Although I loved the game of pool I never let it control my life. I have played against pros in some of the tournaments I played in and beat some of them. One of the best feelings is to beat a "full time pool player" when they know your'e just "a weekend ball banger".

I currently play in the APA league and have been to Nationals 4 times at the highest skill level. In 2003 I was ranked 3rd of all the 9 ball players there.

I have already been where your heading and the best decision I made was to get an education so I could support myself and family. I was once told by a CPA that the more education you have the more choices in life you will have. Four years is a very short time to get yourself prepared for life. You can still play pool for the pure enjoyment of the game and still improve your game. When you can financiallly support yourself you will find the game more enjoyable and thats when you can go pro.

Sincerely,

twoforpool@comcast.net
(twoforpool - my wife and I)
 
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I can understand where one would say they do not want to look back and be regretful. However, more people are regretful that they did not finish their education, than are those who did not try something else. Once you have the education, many doors open for you, and pool is still their. If you try pool and do not make (as will happen to the large percentage that try), you will play catch up in life for quite a while, and maybe end up in a job for life that you do not enjoy. I would recommend this: number your priorities (with school as number 1 in my opinion), an dlet nothing get in the way of the top ones, while remembering to have some balance in your life. Pool can be an excellent study break and stress reliever. You cannot study or work all the time. Just do not end up in the pool hall until 2 am on a school night. Play weekend tournaments or those that your schedule allows. You are very young still, build a solid foundation for life, and improve from there. Don't sabotage yourself this early.
 
I can only give my support to the advice you have already received. Focus on your education first. 4 years may seem like a long time, but it will pass very quickly. Establish yourself, get a steady income, and then, if you still want to give professional pool a shot, by all means go for it. But you really need the education to fall back on. The number of pool players who actually make a living playing pool is a very small percentage. Having a career that can provide some stability to your life will actually make it easier for you, should you decide to persue pool.
If you decide to start a family, just remember the old joke. What is the difference between a large pizza and a pool player? A large pizza can feed a family of 4!
Steve
 
Great advice!

Jack Madden said:
I am old enough to be your father or maybe even grandfather, I have played pool since I was 10-11, pool is an obsession with me, I have hustled, have played in tournaments, had lots of friends who are damn good players. My life would have been much easier if I had an "education" but I have been fortunate in life - happily married to same gal and 3 kids doing well in their lives (with college degrees). My advice is rather brutal - forget the pool for now - you don't have time. Your job is getting that education. If you have the same passion for pool after you graduate, then go for it - atleast you will have a way to support yourself.
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I couldn't have said it any better myself! Great answer Jack. It's amazing how much people have in common. I can truly identify with your "life story"!;)
 
As one of many who have been in your exact situation, I can only offer this advice in the strongest terms: PUT YOUR EDUCATION FIRST! You can still continue to play pool and develop, to the extent that it doesn't negatively impact on your education. You will certainly have to give up a lot in terms of your social life, but you cannot become great in any one endeavor without sacrificing something else, and by all means, that something else should not be your education.

Unfortunately, the state of our sport is such that only a handful of players can earn enough playing pool to support a family and build some kind of future. This means that there is a 99.99 percent chance that you will have to work, in some manner to support yourself, and I can assure you that your options and your chances of doing this are exponentially increased with a college degree under your belt.

One of the beautiful things about this sport is that you can play it at the highest levels at a more advanced age than in most other sports. As such, there is no rush as far as pool is concerned. If, after you graduate, you decide that you want to take a crack at playing the game full-time, the game will still be there, and you will have something to fall back on. Being an educated and well-rounded individual with myriad options also helps your pool game--it certainly relieves a lot of pressure in your life!
 
As someone who does make all of their income from playing pool, I will echo the same sentiments that everyone else has. I was fortunate enough to finish college before I started playing pool full time. Over the years I have owned several other businesses (some connected to pool, some not), but I have always been able to put food on the table and keep a roof overhead for my family. For the past 13 years I have toured the country doing professional exhibitions in colleges and universities, and making a damn fine living at it. In my shows I ALWAYS stress the importance of staying in school, and getting a good education. Pool will always be there. The chance to do well in college is often a fleeting thing, and the majority of those that don't finish, never go back (for various reasons). If you're going to invest in college, get the most out of it. Don't go, if you're not serious about studying...it will be a waste of your time and money.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
If you get a college degree, what kind of job do you think would pay as little as a full time pool player. There is no money in pool unless you are so good that you can market yourself. The sport itself makes no money. You said you will play a sport. Is the college giving you some tuition to play. If so you must do your job of playing and studying. Get your degree. Play some tournaments at the college for fun.
 
SlickRick_PCS said:
I am having deep considerations about moving to a different area of the
state. I am going to have deep considerations about how I am going to be
able to financially support myself as well as go to college --
Click to expand...

It does seem surpassing strange that U.S. universities, which give scholarships for all sorts of unintellectual stuff, do not have billiard scholarships. Or, at least, not that I have heard about.
 
You've got to do the problems if math is your major. These take lots of time...everyday, day after day after day after day...just to keep up. I'd say at least 2 hours per day depending on your skill level.

Add, say, 3 hours per day for work, then class time, sleep, other stuff and little is left for pool.

Let no one here tell you what to do. You know what your priorities are; just rationally follow them.

Wait! How about hookin' up with some babe and let her support you. Lie to her, tell her how much you love her, etc. and then when done with college, borrow as much money as you can from her and then dump her.

Jeff Livingston
 
I must agree with the majortiy of the posters. Please focus on getting your degree. Your desire for pool may increase in life or it may decrease. Your skill at the game may increase or decrease. You may find something else besides pool later in life. But once you have that college degree it is something that you will always have and it can never be taken away from you.
 
I will echo the sentiments of the rest, stay in school. If this were a golf forum, and you were a scratch handicap, my advice may be different. Why? Because there is a bigger upside to reaching the top level in golf that there is in pool. Tiger Woods and a few other golfers get paid appearence fees that are more than most first place prizes in pro pool tournaments. Sad but true.

I'm going to relate a story from my life and you can use it as you wish:

When I was 21, playing at Hollywood Billiards (Hollywood & Western) I was good. Real good. I beat Keith getting the 8, and broke even getting the last two. I regulary finished in the top three of the weekly tournament there and spent every non-working moment playing pool. I had a 9-5 at the phone company and was making good money for a 21 year old. I played so much, I took a job at the poolhall on weekends just to get free pool time the rest of the week. This place was owned by a crusty old man from New York. His name was Arne Satin (R.I.P.). He was from New York, and very hard to get along with, but he liked me for some reason. Anyway, late one Wednesday after the 9ball tourney Arne and I were talking and I just blurted out that I was thinking about quitting my job to play full time. He gave me a look I'll never forget. Without saying anything, he called Keith over. He told Keith, "empty out, I'll match whatever you have in your pockets.". Keith has like 20 or 25 dollars, Arne hands it to him and Keith goes bopping off like he just won the Lottery or something. I was stunned. I said "Arne, weren't you worried that Keith would have 500 or something?". Arne just laughed and said "Not at all". Then he hit me with it, he said "The only guy in the poolroom you can't beat yet, and he has 25 bucks to his name. And you want to quit your job?". That, needless to say, changed my life forever.
 
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